# Capacitor Schoopage with Ron Demcko from AVX

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2022-07-18
- Length: 1h 25m
- Episode: 596
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-07-18-capacitor-schoopage-with-ron-demcko-from-avx
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/596-capacitor-schoopage-with-ron-demcko-from-avx/

## Summary

Ron Demcko, an AVX Fellow with 40 years of experience, joins Dave Jones to analyze a failed film capacitor, concluding that moisture ingress through the epoxy seal is the root cause rather than impulse degradation. They discuss the internal construction of film capacitors, including sputtered metallization and shoopage termination, and explain how moisture causes electrode oxidation and resistance changes. The conversation expands to cover advancements in ceramic capacitors, such as low-inductance LICC and LGA packages, and the reliability of tantalum and polymer capacitors in automotive and aerospace applications.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-07-18-capacitor-schoopage-with-ron-demcko-from-avx#t=0) Introduction and Capacitor Failure Analysis
- [3:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-07-18-capacitor-schoopage-with-ron-demcko-from-avx#t=233) Moisture Ingress and Film Capacitor Construction
- [18:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-07-18-capacitor-schoopage-with-ron-demcko-from-avx#t=1132) Ceramic Capacitor Miniaturization and Low Inductance
- [49:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-07-18-capacitor-schoopage-with-ron-demcko-from-avx#t=2985) Tantalum and Polymer Capacitor Technologies
- [1:04:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-07-18-capacitor-schoopage-with-ron-demcko-from-avx#t=3868) Advanced Components: Varistors, Antennas, and Connectors

## Topics

- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- AVX (company)
- Kyocera (company)
- EPCI (company)
- LICC (product)
- FlexiSafe (product)
- MLV (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The Spark Gap - Episode 25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2015-01-28-the-spark-gap-episode-25) (The Spark Gap)
- [Ep 313: Capacitor Plague, Wireless Power, and Tiny Everything](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-03-21-ep-313-capacitor-plague-wireless-power-and-tiny-everything-cb8186ab) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Ep 313: Capacitor Plague, Wireless Power, and Tiny Everything](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-03-21-ep-313-capacitor-plague-wireless-power-and-tiny-everything) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [419: Fission Chips](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-06-30-419-fission-chips) (Embedded.fm)
- [Ep 313: Capacitor Plague, Wireless Power, and Tiny Everything](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-03-21-ep-313-capacitor-plague-wireless-power-and-tiny-everything-b56cece1) (Hackaday Podcast)

## Citing this page

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